An unbraten end to the season may not be enough to secure promotion says coach

Ollie Smith has warned his Esher side they must go unbeaten for the rest of the season – and even that might not be good enough to earn promotion from National League One back to the Championship.

They host second-placed Blaydon on Saturday knowing there is precious little room for slip-ups but encouraged by a 38-34 victory over the Tynesiders back in October.

Although a win would put Esher right on the heels of their visitors, who start six points in front, they are a massive 13 behind leaders Ealing Trailfinders.

Smith admitted: “We’ve given ourselves a hill to climb but we can only go out to win each game and hope that it’s good enough.

"We still have Ealing to play and need to beat them but if that was their only defeat then it wouldn’t be good enough, but that’s our bad luck.”

The whole National League One programme was wiped out by last weekend’s freeze, meaning Esher’s visit to Old Albanians is now on February 9.

Smith though believes that the break might come in handy for a side who have started the year with a brace of victories, saying: “It gives a chance to get over a couple of niggles, which is no bad thing.

"We knew on Friday that it was off and we left it down to the players to decide what they needed to do individually.

“We have encouraged every member of the team this season to take responsibility for ensuring he is in the best possible shape – we see them three times a week so it’s important that players think for themselves rather than have us watching over them all the time and I think it’s worked.